NFL Draft 2006: An Overview of the 2006 NFL Draft in the NFC East
New York Giants- Ernie Accorsi, general manager of the New York Giants, has been pretty successful over the last couple of NFL drafts in getting his type of players. In the NFL Draft of 2004, quarterback Eli Manning became the new face of the Giants. This year, Accorsi, in his last year in the league, picked up several strong prospects for the next decade. To support Uminyora and Strahan on the defensive line (the best sack duo in the league in 2005), the Giants used the 32nd draft pick in the 2006 NFL Draft pick to get defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka of Boston College. Kiwanuka will provide a fast edge rush and strong determination for the Giants’ defense. To support tight end Jeremy Shockey and wide receiver Plaxico Burress, the Giants moved up in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft to get speedster wide receiver Sinorice Moss. Moss will give them a fast option opposite the sure handed Burress and Shockey. The Giants were able to use their first two picks in the 2006 NFL Draft to solidify their defensive line and wide receiver positions for years to come, while taking a group of defensive lineman and linebackers in the later rounds to keep their defense solid for years to come.
2006 NFL Draft grade: B+
Washington Redskins- Coach Joe Gibbs and the Redskins were quiet in the 2006 NFL Draft, without a first round pick or a slew of later round picks to solidify their team. Second round NFL Draft pick Roger McIntosh, linebacker from Miami, should give them a solid replacement for the departed Lavar Arrington. Fifth round NFL Draft pick Anthony Montgomery, defensive tackle from Minnesota, gives the Redskins defense some depth in the interior defensive line. Overall, however, it was an uneventful draft for the Redskins, who are looking to stand pat with their veteran group on both sides of the ball.
2006 NFL Draft grade: C
Dallas Cowboys- While many observers and pundits consider the 2006 NFL Draft strategy of Bill Parcells and Jerry Jones to be poorly planned, the strategy makes sense for a team that is high on talent but underachieved last season in the NFL. Linebacker Bobby Carpenter, the 18th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, provides solid second level support for a strong Cowboys front four. Tight End Anthony Fasano, a second round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, is perhaps a stretch for a team that already has a strong tight end in Jason Whitten. But Fasano gives them another sure handed receiver for Drew Bledsoe and could develop into a Mark Bavaro type tight end for the run-conscious Parcells. Defensive end Jason Hatcher (3rd round of the 2006 NFL Draft), wide receiver Skyler Green (4th round of the 2006 NFL Draft), and safety Pat Watkins (5th round of the 2006 NFL Draft), give the Cowboys depth at key positions. The Cowboys’ draft strategy in the 2006 NFL Draft is perhaps one of the more underrated and should reap a few solid players in the next year or two.
2006 NFL Draft grade: B
Philadelphia Eagles- The Eagles had a fairly solid 2006 NFL Draft in the wake of a disappointing (6-10) 2005 NFL campaign. Nose tackle Brodrick Bunkley, the 14th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, gives the Eagles a run stopper ready for the 2006 NFL season. Tackle Winston Justice, a second round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, joined his fellow USC Trojans in slipping down the draft board into the high second round. The Eagles will benefit because Justice, despite questions about his character, is a great pickup for a weakened Eagles offense. Wide receiver Jason Avant, taken in the fourth round in the 2006 NFL Draft, will not fill the Terrell Owens spot but should give Donovan McNabb an adequate weapon when he tosses the ball all over the field.
2006 NFL Draft grade: B
2006 NFL Draft Division Winner- The New York Giants clearly won out in the NFC East in the 2006 NFL Draft, but the Cowboys should get credit for picking solid players against the advice of draft experts who have considered the Cowboy draft a weak one.
